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Flying the Nutty Skies

Related Article: How Biodiesel Works

If Richard Branson had his way, every flight would be fueled with nuts - the kind of nuts that make biofuel. A recent Virgin Atlantic flight used biofuel for 20% of its fuel, making it one of the first major airlines to try the new alternative fuel.

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How C-130s Are Built (5:07)

The C-130 is one of the largest and most powerful cargo planes in the world. Find out how such a mammoth aircraft works in this HowStuffWorks video.

Plane Crash (2:40)

What are the odds you will die in a plane crash?

How Helicopters Work (1:11)

Helicopters use various degrees of balance and rotation to fly. Learn how helicopters work in this HowStuffWorks video.

How Did This Airplane Avoid Crashing? (1:30)

Watch this Reuters video showing a Lufthansa flight to Hamburg that nearly ended in disaster. Flying through storms and battling strong gusts of wind this expert team of pilots avoided disaster as they tried to land at the Hamburg airport.

How Hot Air Balloons Work (1:12)

Hot air balloons rides are flying at its purest. Watch this video from HowStuffWorks to see what it's like to fly in a hot air balloon.

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Daily Planet: Tracking Baggage (4:07)

When checking into the airport, your bag’s information is typed into the computer first, producing a computer map that dictates where your bag goes. Photoelectric eyes and scanners on the conveyer belts control bag movement.

Plane Crash (2:40)

What are the odds you will die in a plane crash?

What Are the Odds? Plane Crash (2:39)

What are the odds you will die in a plane crash? Learn more about odds in this video.

How Helicopters Work (1:11)

Helicopters use various degrees of balance and rotation to fly. Learn how helicopters work in this HowStuffWorks video.

How the Raven R44 Helicopter Works (1:43)

The Raven R44 is a lightweight, 4 person helicopter. Learn more about the Raven R44 in this HowStuffWorks video.

How Helicopter Pre-Flighting Works (3:49)

Helicopter pilots check several parts of the helicopter before takeoff. Learn more about helicopters in this HowStuffWorks video.

How Helicopters Move (1:18)

Helicopters move in several unique ways. Learn more about helicopter movements in this video from HowStuffWorks.com

How Helicopter Controls Work (1:26)

Learn how helicopter controls work. To find out more about helicopters, see this video from HowStuffWorks.

How C-130s Are Built (5:07)

The C-130 is one of the largest and most powerful cargo planes in the world. Find out how such a mammoth aircraft works in this HowStuffWorks video.

Crash Simulator (1:46)

From the archives of Discovery: Aviation students train for crashes ahead of time by using crash simulators. Learn more about crash simulators.